He approaches the macro and micro of the cosmos with a delightful sense of awe-filled optimism that is entirely refreshing the the current, cynical, panic-stricken climate of Science for Profit and Evangelical Atheism. It's science without an agenda, other than to explore and better understand our world.
When I was a kid, I loved science, in large part because of this show. I'm sure I watched it with my dad, along with Nova and National Geographic Presents. I remember the long reclusive hours I spent as a kid making observations and conducting experiments.
Somewhere along the line, my attention turned significantly to language arts. The joys of science became bogged down in the horrors of math, while language led down a slouchy, jazzy path of literature, music, and visual art where it seemed anybody with an idea, even a stupid one, and an elegant or gimicky way to express it, could explode into a happenin' scene of epic proportions.
Lately tho, I feel kinda done with happenin' scenes of any proportions. At the same time, my fine young nephew has brought the dazzling world of Science back into my center of focus. Ever since our trip to the Franklin Institute, I've been remembering those days of early childhood, and just the shear wonder of everything.
All areas of science have made leaps and bounds in the 20 some years I wasn't really paying attention. Now, hanging out with Matthew, I get to catch up to all the stuff I missed out on AND stay on the cutting edge (Matthew's totally cutting edge. This kid is a natural born quantum physicist. Talk to him about Time Travel. Seriously.)
So now I'm filling in my gaps, devoting my rainy days to Carl Sagan, Kenneth W. Ford, and the Reluctant Mr. Darwin instead of my usual gin and ink and A Perfect Circle records.
And, in the immortal words of Bill Nye, "Science Rules!"
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